Personally, I feel that we have plenty to go on for the exaltation of Heavenly Father, but that the brethern had to back down from it due to a golden-calf moment. That's not a knock against the brethern.

Along with those mentioned, there's also the Therapeutae, my favourite group of late-antiquity Jewish monastics. I'm not sure how credible it is, but I always thought the idea that there name and practices were derived from Therevada Buddhist missionaries was kinda neat. We have evidence of Buddhist missionaries in Jerusalem, Alexandria, and other areas of the Greco-Roman world in which Hellenistic Jews lived.

Best advice I've heard from a sealer, who happens to be a currently serving apostle, was "you two have fun making whoopee tonight" as he walked out of the room.
I haven't been a live sealing in a while, but it makes sense. Unless the sealer is a family friend, it seems a bit odd to be getting or giving advice.

It was good. We actually started on time! The chapel kept filling up as we were going, but I think it’s just a matter of keeping it up for a few weeks and people will get used to it.
The two hours still feels weird to me. Not in a bad way. Just short, which it is in comparison obviously.
Having just two sacrament talks and an intermediate hymn will be the norm going forward I think.
The afternoon actually feels like a day off now, rather than a half day. As someone trying to practice a Shabbat closer to their Jewish roots, it’s made the time incredibly peaceful and enjoyable as I’ve studied the scriptures more in depth, prayed more often, called the people to whom I minister, and done family history studied. I took a walk and practiced mindfulness in the incredibly mild winter we’re having up here.
Maybe this thread should be re-titled as “How was your Sabbath?” as I feel now that Church is PART of my Sabbath, rather than the Church feeling like THE Sabbath. In some ways, I value Church more because of that.

This is a very good list. While I do have a Nintendo Switch, it's limited to a farming game, Mario Kart, Mario, and a fitness game my parents like when visiting. It probably gets picked up about once a month.
I'll just add that dedicating and periodically re-dedicating a home is good too.

Along with what's been said here, if King Noah's court is any indication of how the Zarahemla-based court functioned, then the priestly class also functioned to maintain/keep/teaching literacy and writing. Hence the linguistic shift among the Lamanites to the Nephite language and writing system.

That's assuming the girls are any better at getting there on time than the guys. They aren't.
We've toyed with Bernard's suggestion. We're tempted to either do that, or simply start the meeting right on time as announced regardless of how many people are there. After a few weeks, people will probably adjust.

It was decent. Our ward has a chronic issue with starting on time. Yesterday was a bit better, but we still started late. Mostly it's an issue of sufficient priesthood holders showing up on time and volunteering to sit upfront to bless and pass the sacrament. Any ideas about how to improve this are welcome, as I'm currently serving as Exec Sec and it's something we're working to resolve.
Anyhoo, we ended sorta on time. Too many announcements after the meeting was over though, so we didn't get class going until about 25 minutes past the hour.
We also had way too many people stuffed in the class. We're considering either staying in the gym (we meet at the institute building in the gym, no chapel), or splitting classes. Not sure yet.

No problem.
It should be noted that we ordination can only come by way of someone else who is ordained unto that power. Also that the ordinances preceding ordination are done under priestly authority. That said, these ordinances may have more to do with justification than sanctification, though it's hard to separate the two.
Mostly agreed. It seems though that once ordained it's the compliance and fulfilling of the duties associated with ordination that sanctifies the individual. See Jacob's words in 2 Nephi and Jacob regarding the connection between his office and the need to preach, as well as the example of Melchizedek in Alma 13. Justification vs. sanctification is a fascinating topic.

No probs.
Their holy calling to the priesthood was prepared with a preparatory redemption for those receive it.
The foreordination and calling to the priesthood is enabled via the Atonement of Christ.
Their calling to the holy order of the priesthood sanctified them and washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb. Sanctification is defined elsewhere as being both saved, elect, redeemed, holy, and without spot (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2, Moroni 10:33)
Their entering into the rest of the Lord their God was preceded by purification, having their garments made white and being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, which sanctification came in and through their calling to the holy order of the priesthood.

I mean, it’s not God the Father, but Alma 13 explains in pretty clear terms the need for authority and priesthood in order to be saved. It’s one of the most elaborate explanations of how both ordination to the priesthood and service therein saves.